Let’s be clear. The Waco coroner has enough evidence to ID the exact caliber of the rounds that caused the fatal wounds of the nine bikers killed at the Twin Peaks biker rally. The so-called “final reports” released by Judge Walter H. “Pete” Peterson – provided by kwtx.com August 13 and just discovered by this writer – lack this critical information. Make the jump for the TV station’s summary, with toxicology reports omitted and links to the coroner’s individual reports inserted.
Jesus Delgado Rodriguez, 65, died of gunshot wounds from a medium-caliber weapon that fired a copper-jacketed bullet, the final autopsy report says.
One of the bullets entered the left side of his face, the other entered the right side of his back.
There was no soot or stippling associated with the wounds, indicating the bullets were fired from several feet away.
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Matthew Mark Smith, 27, the youngest of the nine killed, suffered two gunshot wounds, one to the right side of his back and the other on the right side of his abdomen, the autopsy report said.
In Smith’s case toxicology showed evidence of marijuana in his system at the time of his death but no alcohol.
Again the medical examiner said he saw no soot or stippling associated with the gunshot wounds.
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Daniel Raymond Boyett, 44, died of two gunshot wounds to the head, one to the abdomen and had blunt force trauma injuries on his hands and legs, the final autopsy showed.
One gunshot wound entered the top of his head, another the left side of his head and one into the left side of his abdomen.
The medical examiner said he saw no soot or stippling associated with the gunshot wounds.
The blunt force injuries were not fatal but were noticed and reported in the autopsy.
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Wayne Lee Campbell, 43, died of a gunshot wound from a small caliber, metal-jacketed bullet that entered on the right side of his chin and traveled into his abdomen.
There was no soot or stippling associated with the gunshot wound, the report said.
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Richard Matthew Jordan, III, 31, died of a gunshot wound in his scalp, the report said.
The report says the wound was caused by a medium-caliber, jacketed bullet, fragments of which were recovered during the autopsy.
Again there was no soot or stippling present around the wound.
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Jacob Lee Rhyne, 39, died of gunshot wounds to the neck and lower abdomen, autopsy showed.
Fragments from a medium-caliber, metal-jacketed bullet were recovered from the body.
There was no soot or stippling associated with the gunshot wounds, the report said.
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Manuel Issac Rodriguez, 40, died of gunshot wounds to the head and the right side of his back, neither of which showed soot or stippling, the report said.
A medium-caliber, copper-jacketed bullet was recovered from the body.
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Richard Vincent Kirshner, Jr., 47, died of gunshot wounds to the left buttocks, right thigh and left knee, according to the autopsy report.
Fragments from a small-caliber, metal-jacketed bullet were recovered from his body but no soot or stippling was apparent.
The medical examiner also noted an incision injury to his scalp and to his neck but neither of which would have been fatal.
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Charles Wayne Russell, 46, died of a gunshot wound to the chest caused by a medium-caliber, copper-jacketed bullet, the autopsy report said.
The report further said there was no firearm residue recovered in association with the wound.
He also had blunt force injuries to his head.
TTAG writer and combat medic Jon Wayne Taylor examined the reports. He offers the following observations:
- The coroner discovered several intact rounds, yet failed to name their caliber or link them to a particular firearm
- In two cases, a bullet entered the victim at an extreme angle and traveled downwards into the victim’s body. This indicates that they were either shot from above or were on their knees when they were shot. In neither case was the shooter within close range (lack of “soot or stippling associated with the gunshot wounds”). In both cases, the bullet would have to been either a high-powered handgun round (e.g., .357 or .44) or a rifle round.
The bottom line: the Waco coroner failed in his duty to provide compete information about the deaths of nine bikers at the Twin Peaks restaurant. Information which would help identify whether or not police killed some or all of the victims. Meanwhile, a gag order on the first biker’s trial remains in place. Some 177 motorcyclists were arrested after the incident, held on $1m bail each. Two remain in prison three months later.